No, Geek Squad Did Not Analyze the Christmas Tree App (Hoax alert)

At that time Geek Squad reached out through our social media presence and various hoax debunking sites to say that we had never investigated any Christmas-tree-related Facebook apps. Because we never looked into it, we couldn’t have determined the extent to which it could be dangerous to Facebook users.

The problem with internet hoaxes like these are that they flare back up again on occasion. That particular hoax email made the rounds again in 2011, and we reached out again through social media and this blog at that time. While we didn’t hear much about this email hoax last year, it seems to be making a comeback, so we thought it would be a good time to reach out on this topic again.

Let’s make this clear: Geek Squad has never formally investigated any Facebook app that involved Chrismas trees, nor have we identified it as the source of any infections in any tech cases we have solved. This does not automatically mean that the “Christmas Tree App”, if you find one on Facebook, is ok to use.

As a general rule, if it’s not 100% necessary for you to use an application and you can’t verify that the developer is trustworthy, you will want to do some research before using it. There are a number of approaches users can take to keep from installing nefarious apps on Facebook. Start by looking through the Facebook Security page for tips on keeping your profile information secure.

Any Facebook application that you install or use on your profile has access to your personal information and friends list, so make sure you’re only giving applications and people you trust access to your personal info.

As always, if you are dealing with any undesired computer symptoms, seek help from a computer professional as soon as possible. If you notice any signs of your Facebook account being compromised or sending out messages you didn’t intend to send, it could be a signal that your computer may be infected, and you should seek professional assistance.